A new approach for environmental modelling of LULC changes in semiarid regions of Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh, India using geospatial techniques

Abstract

This study aims to define the changing pattern of land use and its geo-environmental impacts on the semi-arid region of Anantapur district of AP state, India. Satellite imageries were analysed to perceive the variations in land use and land cover in the past 9 years from 2010 to 2019. RS and GIS modelling has helped in the mapping of land use and land cover changes. The study has assumed five characteristic features, they are (i) Waterbodies, (ii) Vegetation, (iii) Fallow land, (iv) Cultivation lands, and (v) Degraded lands. The results reveal that, from 2010 to 2019, there is a decrease in water bodies, vegetation and fallow lands of 6.75 km2, 42.96 km2 and 105.45 km2 respectively. While cultivation lands and degraded lands increased to 4.7 km2 and 105.45 km2 respectively. The environmental ecosystem is disturbed due to the increase in degraded lands, thus making the study area turn into a desert. Normalized Differential Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) are very useful for the accuracy assessment of vegetation, cultivation land and waterbodies in this LULC change detection studies.